Isaac

Assuming a Cassel trade (big assumption), I believe the Patriots will have the resources (picks and cap room) to address all of their pressing offseason personnel needs, including a #3 WR. I realize that there is a mood that the defense needs all the attention this offseason and that the offense, the WR corps in particular, is good enough such that a #3 WR is a nice but minor need. I disagree--I believe that an upgrade at the #3 WR would be a significant upgrade to this team and therefore is a significant offseason priority.

I started to think about the value of a #3 WR when the rumor of Deion Branch return was floated--imagine if the Patriots had a small, quick, smart #3 WR that could play the outside and dominate against single coverage. If he had enough speed to threaten the CB, he would be open all day for outs, slants, and stop routes.

The reality is that when this team loses it is often because the offense struggles. Of course the defense needs help, but in fact they don't lose a lot of high-scoring games. Often, our offense struggles when the QB is pressured, usually by blitzing. Moss isn't a great blitz-beating WR, leaving Welker and screens at this point. If we had a #3 WR that was great at beating blitzes, it could be a significant component of the offense when teams are pressuring.

I like Gaffney, but he could be upgraded significantly. It'd be nice to re-sign him as a #4, if the special teams could handle it. A #3 WR upgrade would also help if Moss gets hurt, which is currently not an attractive scenario for this team.

So, any suggestions of available free agents or draftees that could fill this need for a small, quick, smart #3 WR with enough speed?

BradyManny

I agree 100%. If we had Branch in Feb 08, we'd have beaten the Giants, no doubt. I like Gaffney, I like what he brings to the table, but I really want the kind of receiver you are talking about. It would make us unbeatable. There is no quick upgrade to the defense short of getting Asomugha here, its in much better shape than most fans think, its eighth in the league scoring-wise despite some struggles this year. But still, its a work in progress, its young, and as Mayo, Crable, Wheatley, Guyton, Wilhite, etc. gain more experience, the D will get better and better.

In the meanwhile, there is a quick way to upgrade the offense, and that's another #3/4 receiver who complements Gaffney and provides a different skillset, and the skillset you reference.

Sicilian

A #3 WR wouldn't have stopped the Jets on 3rd and 15.

A #3 WR wouldn't have prevented all the second half turnovers against the Steelers.

A #3 WR wouldn't have stopped the Wildcat in the first Dolphins game.

A #3 WR wouldn't have helped the sad sack defensive effort in the Chargers game.

A #3 WR (aside from Gaffney) MIGHT (big emphasis on MIGHT) have caught the pass that Gaffney dropped in the Colts game. Even that doesn't guarantee a win there though.

A third threat at WR is a luxury, not a need. Wouldn't surprise me to have them pick up another wideout, but I doubt they pull off any big moves. Probably another Gaffney type and level for depth and competition. With Moss and Welker, how many more resources do you want put into the WR position?

tanked_as_usual

a #3 suddenly becomes a #2 when #2 takes a hit the way welker did against the steelers.........a #3 is not a luxury.......it is part of the regular offensive scheme

Sicilian

But we have a number 3, we just don't have an ELITE number 3, which is IMPOSSIBLE to have at every position. You're saying that Gaffney was the reason we missed the playoffs this year? Really?

BradyManny

You're looking back to the wrong season. We're assuming a healthy Brady back, and if so, you have to look back to the Giants game, and see what would've won us that. Granted, the defense not choking would've won us the game, but on the offensive side of the ball, there is a quick fix, and that's a 3rd wideout who can get to the intermediate part of the field before the D can get to Brady. Moss is going deep, Welker is underneath, a quicker 3rd wideout would be lethal.

yopats

I have this terrible dream that many of our fans want us to turn into the Colts.. Our offensive core is great.. nothing needs to be changed. we need to revamp in our secondary and get younger in the LB Corps.. this should be a top priority period..

We could essentially have 7 picks in the first 3 rounds and I think that BB is going to load up on Def Speed and Talent..

I don't see us making a big free agent splash other than Mike Brown or Dewan Landry.. I actually see them extending Mankins/ Wilfork / Seymour etc..

BradyManny

It is, and we're already doing that. Meriweather, Mayo, Guyton, Crable, Redd, Ruud, Wilhite, Wheatley, Richardson, Robertson, Craig. They are all guys developing in the secondary or the linebacker group. If there was a stud CB we could draft that we knew would have higher upside than Wheatley or Wilhite, than its a no-brainer, we'll take him. And I think we will draft CB on Day 1, but I don't think there is a stud CB that fits for the Pats, and that the CBs that do fit (DJ Moore, Smith) aren't going to have immediate impact and will take some time just as Wheatley/Wilhite.

So when looking for things that are easily upgradeable in 2009, WR #3 does come to mind.

Sicilian

Unless that 3rd wide receiver was playing O-Line, I doubt it would have made a significant difference.

BradyManny

No doubt the OL was a sieve, but if Brady had a guy operating in the field in between Moss and Welker's areas of operation, than he might've had a target to hit before the Giants DL and LB were all over him.